New On DVD This Week: Hugo, Midsomer Murders, Top Gear, Here Come the Brides

Renowned director Martin Scorsese’s groundbreaking and original adventure ‘Hugo’ is now available on Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD, all with UltraViolet, On Demand and for Digital Download. Recipient of more Academy Award nominations than any other film, ‘Hugo’ was honored with 11 total—including Best Picture and Best Director—and has already won Martin Scorsese the Golden Globe for Best Director, was named the best film of 2011 by the National Board of Review, and was cited by more than 150 critics as one of the top 10 films of the year including writers for Associated Press, New York Times,Rolling Stone, Time, Entertainment Weekly, New Yorker, New York Daily News and The Hollywood Reporter, among others. ‘Hugo’ is bursting with dynamic action, sumptuous imagery and a heartwarming and magical story that audiences of all ages can enjoy and took home 5 Academy Award trophies at the 2012 Oscars. ‘Hugo’ is available in a three-disc Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, as well as a two-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo pack, each of which boast nearly an hour of behind-the-scenes special features including an illuminating making-of featurette, a retrospective on the extraordinary genius of filmmaker Georges Méliès, a look at the mechanical man at the heart of ‘Hugo’ plus interviews with the cast and crew and more. The film is also available as a single-disc DVD. All Blu-ray and DVD releases available for purchase will be enabled with UltraViolet, a new way to collect, access and enjoy movies. With UltraViolet, consumers can add movies to their digital collection in the cloud, and then stream or download them – reliably and securely – to a variety of devices. Buy the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack right here.

Midsomer Murders

Available in stunning high-definition for the first time, ‘Midsomer Murders’ Set 19 is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. Set 19’s four new, contemporary, stand-alone mysteries are available to U.S. audiences for the first time with this release. Fan favorite John Nettles (Bergerac) stars as Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby in these engrossing full-length mysteries set in England’s picture-perfect but perilous Midsomer County. The cozy villages of Midsomer County reveal their most sinister secrets in these contemporary British television mysteries. Inspired by the novels of Caroline Graham, modern master of the English village mystery, the series stars John Nettles as the unflappable Detective Chief Inspector Tom Barnaby, with Jason Hughes (This Life) as his earnest, efficient protégé, Detective Sergeant Ben Jones. Guest stars include James Wilby (Lady Chatterley, Maurice, Gosford Park), Saskia Reeves (Butterfly Kiss), Janet Suzman (Trial & Retribution), Kenneth Cranham (Layer Cake, Merlin), Tim McInnerny (Notting Hill), David Rintoul (Ghost Writer; My Week with Marilyn), and featuring Neil Dudgeon (Son of Rambow, Life of Riley) in his first appearance as DCI John Barnaby. Buy the Set 19 DVD right here.

Top Gear

It’s more madness, mayhem, and motor hilarity with the world’s most popular car entertainment show, ‘Top Gear.’ This season begins with Jeremy throwing a low key party for the 50th anniversary of the legendary Jaguar E-type—complete with live music, classic fighter planes and a group of Royal Marines. Richard Hammond finds himself in South Africa testing a bigger, even more rugged alternative to the famous Hummer while James May meets up with gold medal winning British Olympian Amy Williams for a wintry test of the latest Mini rally car. The boys then head to Italy to take part in a series of tricky challenges (and increasingly loud arguments) as they attempt to find the world’s best hot hatchback. As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a full track test of the incredible McLaren MP4-12C as it meets its deadliest supercar rival, the Ferrari 458. “Celebrities in a Reasonably Priced Car” include rock legend Alice Cooper, comedian Ross Noble and Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel. Bonus features includes a bonus episode from Top Gear US, behind-the-scenes chats with Amy Williams and Ross Noble, and behind-the-scenes Celebrity Laps. Buy the Season 17 DVD right here.

Here Come the Brides

The Bolt brothers — Jason (Robert Brown, ‘Primus’), Jeremy (Bobby Sherman, ‘Getting Together’) and Joshua (David Soul, ‘Starsky & Hutch’) — are back for another season of classic pioneering adventures and laughs in the second season of ‘Here Come The Brides.’ It’s the 1850s, and while the cries of “timber” echo through the forests of Seattle, so do the sounds of 100 young ladies recently arrived from San Francisco to lay claim to a mass of loggers starved for female attention. Highlights of the show’s second and final season include a conflict with pirate trappers, the search for Big Foot, a battle with a rogue sniper and a fire that threatens to burn down the whole town. Buy the Season 2 DVD right here.

Justice League: Doom

‘Justice League: Doom’ finds Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Cyborg and Batman on their heels when a team of super villains discover and implement the Dark Knight’s “contingency plans” for stopping any rogue Justice League member. The story is inspired by Mark Waid’s much-heralded “JLA: Tower of Babel.” The film features the voices of Nathan Fillion (Castle) as Green Lantern, Tim Daly (‘Private Practice’) as Superman, and a grand reunion of actors who provided the voices of the Justice League for the cartoon of the same name and its follow-up, Justice League Unlimited, including Kevin Conroy (‘Batman: The Animated Series’) as Batman, Michael Rosenbaum (‘Smallville,’ ‘Breaking In’) as Flash, Susan Eisenberg (‘Superman/Batman: Apocalypse’) as Wonder Woman and Carl Lumbly (‘Alias’) as J’onn J’onzz/Martian Manhunter. Bumper Robinson (‘A Different World,’ ‘Transformers: Animated’) joins the cast as Cyborg. The cast features three villainous alumni of the Justice League animated series: Phil Morris (Smallville, Seinfeld) as Vandal Savage, Olivia d’Abo (‘The Wonder Years’) as Star Sapphire, and Alexis Denisof (‘Angel’) as Mirror Master. Also opposing our heroes are Carlos Alazraqui (‘Reno 911’) as Bane, Paul Blackthorne (‘The Dresden Files’) as Metallo, and Claudia Black (‘Farscape,’ ‘Stargate SG-1’) as Cheetah. Buy the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack right here.

Mission Impossible ’89

‘Mission Impossible,’ the revival of the classic, award-winning, action-adventure spy show that launched the blockbuster film franchise, returns to DVD with ‘Mission Impossible’: The ’89 TV Season. Peter Graves stars in his hit role as Jim Phelps, who is called out of retirement to take on the position of leader of the Impossible Mission Force. Together with his talented new team, the IMF continues to solve dangerous and seemingly impossible tasks. Other cast members include Thaao Penghlis, Phil Morris, Tony Hamilton and Jane Badler. Buy the DVD right here.

The Angry Beavers

Your two favorite twin animated beavers — Norbert Foster and Daggett Doofus — return for the first half of a hilariously fun third season of ‘The Angry Beavers.’ Join them for your daily dose of laughter as they continue their hysterical pursuit of the wild bachelor lifestyle. This season contains fan-favorite episodes “Spooky Spoots,” “Muscular Beaver 3,” “Moronathon Man,” “Stump’s Family Reunion,” “Too Loose Latrine” and more. ‘The Angry Beavers’ features an all-star voice cast, including Richard Steven Horvitz (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), Nick Bakay (‘Sabrina, The Teenage Witch’) and Charlie Brisette (‘The Ren & Stimpy Show’). Buy the Season 3, Part 1 DVD right here.

I Melt With You

Richard (Thomas Jane), Ron (Jeremy Piven), Jonathan (Rob Lowe), and Tim (Christian McKay) are friends from college who gather for a weekend each year to celebrate their friendship and catch up with each other in the new movie ‘I Melt With You.’ On the surface, they look like other men going through life: they have careers and families and responsibilities. But as with many people, there is more to them than meets the eye. As the weekend progresses, they go down the rabbit hole of excess. Fueled by sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll, their bacchanalian reunion drives them to an unexpected place where they are forced to confront themselves and the choices they’ve made. Buy the Blu-ray right here.

The Catechism Cataclysm

A bored and blasé man of faith hits the road and encounters some strange surprises along the way in ‘The Catechism Cataclysm,’ the independent comedy from filmmaker Todd Rohal. Father William Smoortser (Steve Little), known to his colleagues and students as Father Billy, is a Catholic priest who seems to have become disenchanted with his work; he’d rather tell jokes to his bible study group than actually discuss scripture, and has more interest in the finer points of diner food than Catholic doctrine. Father Billy’s superiors decide he needs some rest and recreation, so he invites Robbie Shoemaker (Robert Longstreet) to join him for some camping and canoeing. Robbie used to play guitar in a heavy metal band and was engaged to Father Billy’s sister, and to the priest he’s always seemed like the epitome of cool. Robbie and Father Billy hit the river and soon have traveling companions in a pair of young Asian women who call themselves Tom Sawyer (Koko Lanham) and Huck Finn (Miki Ann Maddox). But it isn’t long before the travelers become lost, and the journey becomes increasingly surreal as Father Billy learns some surprising secrets about Robbie. The Catechism Cataclysm was an official selection at the 2011 South by Southwest Film Festival. Buy the DVD right here.

Felipe Esparza: They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You

Felipe Esparza is a comedian and actor best known for his raw, real-life comedy that audiences everywhere can relate to. Known for his wild hair and often-imitated phrase, “what’s up, fool?” people are always surprised to discover that Felipe is also the same person referred to and imitated in several infamous stories by fellow comedian, Gabriel Iglesias. Felipe has most recently been seen as the winner of NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” (2010) and is currently touring comedy clubs and theaters across the country. ‘They’re Not Gonna Laugh at You’ is his unforgettable comedic journey through topics like Latino stereotypes (“We are not all hard workers”) and illegal immigrants in Minnesota (“If you made it that far you can stay”) that will have you in stitches from the moment he hits the stage. Buy the DVD right here.

Answers to Nothing

Redemption comes in pieces. In the tradition of ‘Crash’ and ‘Magnolia,’ lives intertwine in Los Angeles around the search for a missing girl in the new movie ‘Answers to Nothing.’ This intense drama features a dynamic ensemble cast led by Dane Cook along with Julie Benz, Zach Gilford, Elizabeth Mitchell and Barbara Hershey. Personal stories intersect amidst the search for a missing girl in Los Angeles. Frankie (Benz), a single mother, is the detective assigned tothe case. Kate (Mitchell) is her best friend, who is consumed with her desire to have her own child and turns a blind eye to her husband, Ryan’s (Cook) infidelity. Marilyn (Hershey) is Ryan’s mother, and has suffered the same loss of a child. Buy the DVD right here.

Mandrill

The action-packed tale of vengeance and romance, ‘Mandrill,’ is now available on Blu-ray and DVD. From writer/director Ernesto Diaz Espinoza (Mirageman, Kiltro), ‘Mandrill’ stars worldwide action icon Marko Zaror (Mirageman, Undisputed III: Redemption). The thriller won top honors at its international premiere at Austin’s 2009 Fantastic Film Fest, winning Best Fantastic Feature and Zaror winning Best Fantastic Actor. Mixing breathtaking action sequences with sultry romance, ‘Mandrill’ centers on Antonio (Zaror), who is on a quest to avenge the murder of his parents. Working as a ruthless bounty hunter with the code name “Mandrill,” Antonio’s only weakness is women. Therefore, he enlists his uncle – an expert in the art of seduction – to give him the necessary skills to bewitch every female he meets. After Mandrill is enlisted to entrap a powerful casino owner, he discovers that this man is also the one responsible for his parents’ brutal deaths. Yet upon meeting the casino owner’s beautiful daughter Dominique, everything begins to unravel for Mandrill whose life-long search for vengeance may soon fall apart. Buy the Blu-ray right here.

Bounty Hunters

She’s the pro wrestling phenomenon with the covergirl looks, and now Trish Stratus brings her breathtaking awesomeness to the screen in her action-movie debut, ‘Bounty Hunters.’ The action-packed thriller, which gives fans a look at the impressive Stratus that they’ve never seen on WWE Raw, is now available on DVD. A group of down-on-their-luck bounty hunters, led by Jules Taylor (Stratus), hit the jackpot one night when they pick up an informant with $100,000 on his head. But their world is turned upside down when mob boss Hal Lambrino (Joe Rafla) and his impressive associate Ruby (Andrea James Lui) offer them a million dollars in exchange for the informant. When Jules and her partners Chase (Boomer Phillips) and Ridley (Frank J. Zupancic) refuse “the offer you can’t refuse,” the Mafia unleashes a trio of assassins on them who use all their power to bring the bounty hunters down, and to get their man – dead or alive. In the course of the nonstop action, Stratus puts her amazing wrestling moves to good use, battling a bail dodger in a gym and, most memorably, getting into it with Ruby in an ambulance – a mighty display of flying legs, one woman outfitted in a nurse’s uniform, the other in a hospital gown. Besides being WWE Women’s Champion an amazing seven times, Trish Stratus has had a remarkable career outside the ring, including sexy cover girl, fitness icon, yoga entrepreneur, travel series creator and host, reality TV star and comedic performer on such shows as MAD TV. And now, ‘Bounty Hunters,’ directed by Patrick McBrearty (Psycho Ward), provides yet another level of Stratusfaction to the countless fans of this stunning force of nature. Buy the DVD right here.

French Fields

A classic domestic comedy in the tradition of I Love Lucy, ‘French Fields: Complete Collection,’ is now available on DVD. Broadcast continually on PBS since the 1990s, the lighthearted empty nester Brit-com stars beloved actors Anton Rodgers (May to December, Lillie) and Julia McKenzie (Agatha Christie’s Marple) as a happily married couple that relocate to France in search of a change of pace. The DVD 3-Disc set includes all three series of this warm and witty comedy. ‘French Fields’ (1989-1991) is the sequel to the award-winning Fresh Fields, which ran for four series (1984-1986). Frustrated with his daily commute and clients who don’t pay their bills, accountant William Fields (Anton Rodgers) is ready for a change. His wife, Hester (Julia McKenzie) is always up for something new, so when William gets headhunted for a job in France, both are willing to give it a try. What will the Fields make of France—and what will the French make of the Fields? William and Hester dust off their phrase books, pluck up their courage, and soon discover there’s a lot more than the Channel separating the English from the French. Buy the Complete Collection right here.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

‘My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express’ is now available on DVD. Featuring 5 pony-riffic episodes, Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express will also offer bonus features such as Meet the Ponies, sing-a-longs and coloring sheets. It will also include “Yipper Caper,” the very first episode of the new Pound Puppies series. In ‘My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: The Friendship Express,’the benevolent Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria, selects unicorn Twilight Sparkle for a very important assignment – to learn about the most important magic of all: friendship. With her new friends, Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie, Twilight sets out on amazing adventures, and they all learn what it means to be true friends. The My Little Pony Friendship is Magic series is currently airing on The HUB. Buy the Season 1 DVD right here.

The Myth of the American Sleepover

In the tradition of freewheeling tributes to adolescence like Dazed & Confused and American Graffiti comes ‘The Myth of the American Sleepover,’ a remarkable first feature from writer-director David Robert Mitchell. Cast with winning young newcomers, including Claire Sloma, Marlon Morton and Amanda Bauer, the poignantly funny movie follows several teenagers on the last night of summer as they explore a suburban Detroit wonderland in search of love and adventure – chasing first kisses, elusive crushes, popularity and parties – and discover the quiet moments that will resonate as the best of their youth. Mitchell crafts a coming-of-age drama that’s both heartwarming and heartbreaking. The Special Jury Award winner at the 2010 SXSW Film Festival and an Official Critics Week Selection at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, the IFC Films theatrical release received wide acclaim. Buy the DVD right here.

Nickelodeon Favorites: Dance to the Music

Dance and sing along with preschoolers’ favorites characters from ‘Bubble Guppies,’ ‘Team Umizoomi,’ ‘Dora the Explorer,’ Go, Diego, Go!,’ The Wonder Pets,’ and ‘Ni Hao, Kai-lan,’ who star in the all-new DVD ‘Nickelodeon Favorites: Dance to the Music.’ Nickelodeon’s to-rated preschool show ‘Bubble Guppies’ is making its DVD premiere in this collection and as an added bonus kids can enjoy two ‘Bubble Guppies’ karaoke music videos. Buy the DVD right here.

Todd & the Book of Pure Evil

Imagine, if you will, a book of awesome power. A book that will make your deepest, darkest desires come true… but at a horrifying cost. This is The Book of Pure Evil, and it’s loose in Crowley High, unleashing its dark power and filling the school hallways with monsters made of human fat and flesh-eating zombie rockers. Thankfully, four teenagers stand between The Book and the end of the world as we know it. And they will save our souls — whether they like it or not. Get ‘Todd & The Book of Pure Evil’: The Complete First Season just in time for the second season debut this March on FEARnet, the fan favorite series comes to twisted life in this splatter-tastic 2-disc set, filled with eye-popping extras and every quirky, unforgettable episode from Season One. Only ‘Todd & The Book of Pure Evil’stands between the world and total destruction, so unleash the devilish hilarity today with the complete first season. Buy the Season 1 DVD right here.

The Manions of America

Two-time Golden Globe nominee Pierce Brosnan made his U.S. debut in ‘The Manions of America,’ a sweeping, epic mini-series that originally aired on ABC in 1981. This epic romance that spans two continents and several decades is now available on DVD for the very first time. Chronicling the journey to America of one Irish immigrant family, the O’Manions, and their rise to prominence in the gunpowder business in their adopted country, this mini-series — perfectly timed to release prior to St. Patrick’s Day – has been newly restored and remastered for optimal viewing. Rory O’Manion (Brosnan, The World Is Not Enough , Die Another Day), a hot-headed and rebellious farmer, escapes Ireland’s Great Potato Famine to head to America for a better life but will always have a place in his heart for the old country. Through three decades of trials and tribulations, Rory finds success both in business, love and family, all the while staying true to his promise to make life better for his fellow countrymen both in Ireland and America. Kate Mulgrew (“Star Trek: Nemesis”, Throw Momma from the Train), Barbara Perkins, Simon MacCorkindale (Jaws 3, The Sword and the Sorcerer, Death on the Nile) and Linda Purl (Mighty Joe Young, “The Office”, The Perfect Tenant) co-star in this fondly remembered TV event scripted by “Upstairs Downstairs” staff writer Rosemary Anne Sisson. Buy the DVD right here.

The Automobile

From the 1962 Oscar winner writer of Divorce Italian Style and available for the first time on DVD, ‘The Automobile,’ an episode from the TV mini-series The Three Women, featuring Italian movie icon Anna Magnani with music composed by the genius Ennio Morricone, comes this classic 70s Italian story of Anna, an experienced prostitute who has become an institution in the Roman nightlife. In reality she is lonely and aimless, and decides to buy a car in order to satisfy her need to feel like a normal woman. On an outing to the beach to celebrate her new sense of freedom she meets two men who convince her to let them drive her new car, and things deteriorate from there. Buy the DVD right here.

The Brief

The witty courtroom drama from the creators of Inspector Morse, ‘The Brief: Complete Collection,’ is now available on DVD. Alan Davies (Jonathan Creek) stars in the seriocomic misadventures of clever criminal law barrister Henry Farmer, whose every day is a juggling act between surviving his messy personal life and pleading cases only he can win. Broadcast on ITV between 2004 and 2005 and syndicated on public television, the DVD 4-Vol. complete collection includes all eight episodes. Whether he’s trying to keep an innocent person from going to jail or save himself from financial ruin, Henry Farmer’s life is a symphony of chaos, both inside and outside the courtroom. His long list of problems includes a mountain of gambling debts, an affair with an important politician’s wife (Zara Turner, Sliding Doors), a distant son, and a sharp-tongued father—who’s also a judge. Working with tough colleague Cleo Steyn (Cherie Lunghi, Excalibur) and alongside a cast of colorful characters (including Christopher Fulford, Millions; George Innes, Upstairs, Downstairs; and Linda Bassett, Calendar Girls), Henry will need all his wit and charm to secure justice for his clients and a reprieve for himself. Buy the complete collectionright here.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.